Shiftable screen for moving pictures.



P. W. HOOHSTETTER.

SHIFTABLE SCREEN FOR MOVING PICTURES.

APPLICATION TILED MAI}.12,1918.

Patented Dec. 9, 1913.

2 SHEBTS-SHEET 1.

l I 9% can wklllilkogl n 35 W15 QttOLMQt Wane wee: M @.Q%e

F. W. HOCHSTETTER.

SHIFTABLE SCREEN FOR MOVING PICTURES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.12,1913.

Patented Dec. 9, 1913.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

Q Vi/h uz was M a, M

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK W. HOCHSTETTEB, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO P. PATENTS AND PROCESSES COMPANY, INC., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SHIFTABLE SCREEN FOR MOVING PICTURES.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 9, 1913.

Application filed March 12, 1913. Serial No. 753,733.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK W. Hoclr STETTER, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, and a resident of New York, county and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Shiftable Screens for Moving Pictures, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates more particularly to a class of shiftable screens adapted to be used upon a stage, or platform.

My invention has for its object primarily to provide a mechanism or shift-able stage screen designed vto be employed preferably with the exhibition of moving pictures in a manner which obviates the necessity of photographing the various scenery in conjunction with the acts of the living objects of the play, but which will enable the variousscenic parts of the play to be consecutively or alternately displayed simultaneously with the projection of appropriate acts of the living objects which have been previously produced upon a transparent film independently of the pictures of the scenery. The scenes which are displayed by the use of my mechanism will thereby be separate and distinct from the acts of the living objects, and may be produced in colors so as to render striking and attractive effects. Moreover, by employing such a form of mechanism the acts of the living objects are permitted to be photographed separately upon the film, and then tinted so as to be shown in various preferred contrasted colors.

Another object of the invention is to provide a form of shiftable screen adapted to be operated by electricity so as to be controlled by the operator of the projecting machine, if desired; and a further object of the invention is to provide a mechanism which is susceptible of being made in various sizes and shapes and wherein a number of screens may be provided so as to be alternately used when desired.

With these and other objects in view, the invention will be hereinafter more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and will then be pointed out in the claims at the end of the description.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of one form of mechanism for shiftablescreens embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an end view of the mechanism, partly broken away, taken on the line IIII of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top plan of the mechanism, part of which is broken away. Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary View, partly in detail, of the upper portion of the standards of the mechanism with parts of the operating apparatus removed therefrom. Fig. 5 is an enlarged top plan of the standards of the mechanism when shifted to expanded positions, and Fig. 6 shows enlarged side views, partly in detail and partly fragmentary, of two of the cams used upon the pillars of the mechanism.

The mechanism has a frame 10 which may be of any suitable size adapted to be used upon a platform, as 11, and said frame has two spaced standards 12 and 13. Between the upper parts .of the standards 12 and 13 is a supporting member 14 preferably formed of two rails, as 15 and 16, which are spaced apart in parallel arrangement to provide a slot 17 longitudinally thereoi and between the lower portion of the stan ards is a similar supporting member 18 preferably composed of two rails 19 and 20 which are also spaced apart in parallel arrangement whereby a longitudinal slot 21 is provided. Vertically disposed between the slotted member 14 and the slotted member 18 are a plurality of ro'tatably slidable sections, or pillars 22 and 22, and a rotatable section 22 which is not slidable. The sections are similar in formation, and while I only show three of said sections, it will be understood that any desired number of the sections may be employed in the mechanism. Each of the sections, or pillars 22, 22 and 22 is substantially square shaped, as

viewed transversely, to provide a plurality sections, or pillars is a similar cam, as 25,-

25, 25 The cams 24, 24 and 25, 25 are similarly formed, and each of said cams consists of a square cap 26 which is fitted upon the upper and lower ends of each of the sections to which it may be secured by screwsj; Each corner of each of the or otherwise. caps 26 is concaved or cut-out, at 27, 1n a shape corresponding to the quadrant of a circle, and projecting from each of the caps eat the Opposite upper and lower extremities of each cut-out is a curved plate 28 formed of substantially three-quarters of a circle in shape. Each of the curved plates 28 is of a thickness which is approximately one-half of the depth of each of the cut-outs therebyv forming concaved recesses underneath said plates.

The cams 24 and 25 are similar in formation, and each of said cams also consists of a square cap 29 which is fitted to the sections 22 similar to the caps 26. Each corner of each of the caps 29 is cut-out, at 30, in a shape corresponding to the quadrant of a circle like the cut-outs 27 of the caps 26, and extending from each of the caps at the opposed lower and upper extremities of each cut-out is a curved plate 31 formed also similar to approximately three-quarters of a circle. Each of the. curved plates 31 is of a thickness substantially one-half the depth of each cut-out 30 whereby concaved recesses are provided above the plates 31. Projecting upwardly from each of the cams 24, 24", 24 is a stud 32, and extendin downwardly from the underside of each 0% the cams 25, 25 25 is a stud 33. Each of the studs 32 and 33 are revoluble in a collar, or guide 35. All of the collars 35 upon the studs 32 i are slidably disposed in the slot between the rails 15 and 16 of the upper supporting member 14, and all of the dollars upon the studs 33 are slidably disposed in the slot between the rails 19 and 20 of the lower supporting member 18. In order, to prevent displacement of the slidable collars 35 in the slots of the upper and lower supporting members, each of said collars has its opposite side faces correspondingly grooved, at

36 and 37, for reception of the rails of the slotted supporting members.

As shown in Fig. 1, th e collars 35 of the studs 32 and 33 of the cams 24 and 25 are secured by bolts 38 and 39 to one of the rails of the slotted supporting members 14 and 18 so asto hold the sections 22 against being slidably movable. By this arrangement the sections 22 and 22 are slidable in the slots of the supporting members as well as being adapted to be rotated while the section 22 is revoluble, but is not slidable between the curved plates 28 of each of the cams thereof will be directed into one of the cut-outs, or concaved recesses 30 of the cams of the section 22, and one of the curved plates 31 of each of the cams of the section 22 will in turn be guided into one of the cut-outs, or concaved recesses 27 of each of the cams of said section 22 The section 22 will then be *reversely rotated one-eighth of a circle, and the rotation of this section 22 will be simultaneously imparted in a corresponding manner to the section 22 for rotating it oneeighth of a circle in the same direction as the revolution of the" section 22". The sections 22 and 22 will thereby be slidably moved in the slotted supporting members 14 and 18 simultaneously with the rotation of all of the sections, and by continuing the rotation all of the sections will be revolved the quadrant of a circle so that the corresponding faces of the sections may be jointly exposed.

Serving to shift the sections 22 and 22 as well as rotate all of the sections in unison, I employ electrically operati e means, as 40. The electrically operative means 40 consists of a motor 41 of any well known, or preferred type. To one terminal of the motor 41 is connected a wire 42, and to the second terminal of said motor is connected a wire 43. The wires 42 and 43 may lead from any. suitable source of electricity supply to provide a circuit for operating the motor 41, and to permit the current. to be controlled by the operator of a moving picture projecting machine, or otherwise in said circuit is arranged a switch 44 which may be of the usual, or any desired form. Upon the shaft of the motor 41 is held a pinion 45, and in mesh wit-h said pinion is a gear 46 held upon a rotatable shaft 47 which is journaled in a bracket, as 48. Also upon the shaft 47 is a pinion 49 which is in mesh with a gear 50 held upon one end of ashaft 51 journaled in the bracket 48. Upon the opposite end of the shaft 51 isa bevel gear 52 meshing with a bevel gear 53 provided upon the stud 33 of the section 22". When the switch 44 is moved to close the circuit for operating the motor 41 its rotation will be imparted to the bevel gear 53 through the pinion 45,

- gear 46, pinion 49, gear 50, and bevel gear 52. The stud 33 and the section 22 may thereby be rotated a distance equal to the quadrant of a circle to provide a transparent,

or translucent screen, or curtain of each, set I rangement and also for holding the cams thereof in yielding engagement when being relatively shifted and rotated, a retaining device, as 54, is provided. The retaining device 54 is composed of a sleeve 55 rotatable upon the upper stud 32 of the section 22, and attached to a rin provided upon said sleeve is one end of a line, or cable 56 which is guided over two pulleys 57 and 58 revolubly held upon one end of the supporting member 14. The other end portions of the cable 56 is guided over a pulley 59 mounted in a bracket secured at the upper part of the standard 12 of the frame of the mechanism, and said pulley has two peripheral grooves therein, as shown in Fig. 3. Attached to the ring of a second sleeve 6l rotatable upon the lower studs 33 of the section 22 is one end of another line or cable 62 which is guided over pulleys 63 and 64 revolubly held upon the supporting member 18 at the end thereof corresponding to the pulleys 57 and 58 of the supporting member 14. At the lower part of the standard 12 of the frame 10 is a pulley 65 over which the cable 62 is guided, and said cable 62 is then disposed in the second groove of the pulley 59. The opposite ends of both of the cables 56 and 62 are fastened to a weight 66 which serves to direct the cables 56 and 62 in a direction downwardly with respect to the pulley 59. In turn the cables 56 and 62 will be drawn taut over their respective pulleys for forcing the sections 22 toward the section 22*. All of the cams of the sections will thereby be held in yielding engagement so that when the section 22 is revolved its rotation will force the other sections in a slidable direction between the slotted supporting members 14 and 18 of the frame while being rotated at the same time for producing alternate screens, or curtains.

In the foregoing description, I have embodied the preferred form of my invention, but I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto, as I am aware that modifications may be made therein without departing from the principle, or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention, therefore I reserve to myself theright to make such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters 12atent:

1. In a shiftable screen of the character described, two spaced supporting members, a screen composed of a plurality of sections, said sections being of angular shapes whereby the corresponding faces thereof form a plurality of distinct surfaces which provide the screens for displaying separate scenery, or the like thereon, all of the sections being rotatably held between the supporting members, and a number of said sections being slidable therebetween, means serving to hold one of the sections against slidable movement, electrically operative means adapted to rotate the non-slidable section, and a plurality of cams, one provided upon each of the sections, each of the cams having a number of curved projecting parts corresponding to the number of the faces 'Of the sections, and the cams of all of the sections being disposed whereby each cam of each section will movably engage in succession the corresponding cam of the adjoining section for slidably shifting the sections apart and for rotating all of the slidable sections when the non-slidable section is being revolved.

2. In a shiftable screen of the character described, two spaced supporting members, a screen composed of a plurality of sections, said sections being of angular shapes whereby the corresponding faces thereof form a plurality of distinct surfaces which provide the screens for displaying separate scenery, or the like thereon, all of the sections being rotatably held between the supporting members, and a number of said sections being slidable therebetween, means serving to hold one of the sections against slidable movement, electrically operative means adapted to rotate the non-slidable section, a plurality of cams, one provided upon each of the sections, each of the cams having a number of curved projecting parts corresponding to the number of the faces of the section, and the cams of all of the sections being disposed whereby each cam of each section will movably engage in succession the corresponding cam of the adjoining section for slidably shifting the sections apart and for rotating all of the slidable sections when the non-slidable section is being revolved, and an adjusting device serving to yieldingly retain the cams in engagement.

3. In a shiftable screen of the character described, two spaced supporting members, a screen composed of a plurality of pillars, said pillars being of angular shapes whereby the corresponding faces thereof form a plurality of distinct surfaces which provide the screens for displaying separate scenery or the like thereon all of the pillars being rotatably held between the supporting members, and a number of said pillars being slidable therebetween, means serving to hold one of the pillars against slidable movement, electrically operative means adapted to rotate the non-slidable pillar, and means serving to slidably shift the pillars apart and to simultaneously rotate at the same time all of the slidable pillars when the nonslidable pillar is being revolved.

4. In a shiftable screen of the character described, two spaced supporting members, a screen composed of a plurality of pillars,

said pillars being of angular shapes whereby the corresponding faces thereof form a plurality of distinct surfaces which provide the screens for displaying separate scenery or the like thereon, all of the pillars being rotatably held between the supporting members, and a number of said pillars being slidable therebetween, means serving to hold one of the pillars against slidable movement, electrically operative means adapted to rotate the non-slidable pillar, means serving to slidably shift the pillars apart and to simultaneously rotate at the same time all of the slidable pillars when the non-slidable pillar is being revolved, and an adjusting device serving to yieldingly retain the pillars in relative positions so as to be shifted and simultaneously rotated.

55. In a shiftable screen of the character described, two spaced supporting members, a screen composed of a plurality of sections, said sections being of angular'shapes whereby the corresponding faces thereof form a plurality of distinct surfaces which provide the screens for displaying separate scenery, or the like thereon, all of the sections being rotatably held between the supporting members, and a number of said sections being slidable therebetween, means serving to hold one of the sections against slidable movement, a motor, an electric circuit for operating the motor, a switch for controlling the supply of electricity to the motor, means adapted to transmit rotation from the motor to the non-slidable section, and a plurality of cams, one provided upon. each of the sections, each of the cams having a number of curved projecting parts corresponding to the number of the faces of the section, and the cams of all of the secby the corresponding faces thereof form a plurality of distinct surfaces which provide the screens for displaying separate scenery, or the like thereon, all of the sections being rotatably held between the supporting members, and a number of said sections being slidable therebetween, means serving to hold one of the sectioris against slidable move curved projecting parts corresponding to the number of the faces of the section, and the cams of all of the sections being disposed whereby each cam of each section will movably engage in succession the corresponding 1 cam of the adjoining section for slidably shifting the sections apart and for rotating all of the slidable sections when the nonslidable section is being revolved, and an adjusting device serving to yieldingly retain the cams in engagement.

7. In a shiftable screen of the character described, two spaced supporting members, a screen composed of :1V plurality of pillars, said pillars being of angular shapes whereby the corresponding faces thereof form a plurality of distinct surfaces which provide the screens for displaying separate scenery, or the like thereon, all of the pillars being rotatably held between the supporting members, and a number of said pillars being slidable therebetween, means servin to hold one of the pillars against slidabe movement, a motor, an electric circuit for operating the motor, a switch for controlling the supply of electricity to the motor, means adapted to transmit rotation from the motor to the non-slidable pillar, and meansserving to slidably shift the pillars apart and to simultaneously rotate at the same time all of the slidable pillars when the non-slidable pillar is being revolved.

8. In a shiftable screen of the character described, two spaced supporting members, a screen composed of a plurality of pillars, said pillars being of angular shapes whereby the corresponding faces thereof form a plurality of distinct surfaces which provide the screens for displaying separate scenery or the like thereon, all of the pillars being rotatably held between the supporting members, and a number of said pillars being slidable therebetween, means serving to hold one of the pillars against slidable movement, a motor, an electric circuit for operating the motor, a switch for controlling the supply of electricity to the motor, means adapted to transmit rotation from the motor to the non-slidable pillar, means serving to slidably shift the pillars apart and to simultaneously rotate at the same time all of the slidable pillars when the non-slidable pillar is being revolved, and an adjusting device serving to yieldingly retain the cams in engagement.

9. In a shiftable screen of the character described, a frame, two, spaced rails disposed transversely of the upper part of the frame, v

two similarly spaced rails disposed transor the like thereon, a lurality of shafts, one provided on the top 0 each of the sections, a plurality of collars, one movably disposed upon each of the shafts, said collars being slidably movable in the spaces between the rails, means serving to hold one of the sections against slidable movement, a motor, an electric circuit for operating the motor, a switch for controlling the supply of electricity to the motor, means adapted to transmit rotation from the motor to the nonslidable section, a plurality of cams, one provided upon each of the sections, each of said cams having a number of curved projecting parts corresponding to the number of the faces of the section, and the cams of all of the sections being disposed whereby each cam of each section will movably engage in succession the corresponding cam of the adjoining section for slidably shifting the sections apart and for rotating all of the slidable sections when the non-slidable section is being revolved.

10. In a shiftable screen of the character described, a frame, two spaced rails disposed transversely of the upper part of the frame, two similarly spaced rails disposed transversely of the lower part of the frame, a screen composed of a plurality of sections, said sections being of angular shapes whereby the corresponding faces thereof form a plurality of distinct surfaces which provide the screens for displaying separate scenery, or the like thereon, a plurality of shafts, one provided on the top of each of the sections, a plurality of collars, one movably disposed upon each of the shafts, said collars being slidably movable in the spaces between the rails, means serving to hold one of the sections against slidable movement, a motor, an electric circuit for operating the motor, a switch for controlling the supply of electricity to the motor, means adapted to transmit rotation from the motor to the nonslidable section, a plurality of cams, one provided upon each of the sections, each of the cams having a number of curved projccting parts corresponding to the number of the faces of the section, and the cams of all of the sections being disposed;whereby each cam of each section will movably engage in succession the corresponding cam of the adjoining section for slidably shifting the sections apart and for rotating all of the slidable sections when the non-slidable section is being revolved, and an adjusting device serving to yieldingly retain the cams in engagement.

11. In a shiftable screen of the character described, a frame, two rails disposed transversely of the upper part of the frame, two similarly spaced rails disposed transversely of the lower part of the frame, a screen composed of a plurality of pillars, said pillars being of angular shapes whereby the corresponding faces thereof form a plurality of distinct surfaces which provide the screens for displaying separate scenery, or the like thereon, a plurality of shafts, one provided upon the top of each of the pillars, a plurality of collars, one movably disposed upon each of the shafts, said collars being slidably movable in the spaces between the rails, means serving to hold one of the pillars against slidable movement, a motor, an electric circuit for operating the motor, a switch for controlling the supply of electricity to the motor, gears adapted to transmit rotation from the motor to the non-slidable pillar, and means serving to slidably shift the pillars apart and to simultaneously rotate at the same time all of the slidable pillars when the non-slidable pillar is being revolved.

12. In a shiftable screen of the character described, a frame, two spaced rails disposed transversely of the upper part of the frame, two similarly spaced rails disposed transversely of the lower part of the frame,

a screen composed of a plurality of pillars,

said pillars being of angular shapes whereby the corresponding faces thereof form a plurality of distinct surfaces which provide the screens for displaying separate scenery, or the like thereon, a plurality of shafts, one provided upon the top of each of the pillars, a plurality of collars, one movably disposed upon each of the shafts, said collars being slidably movable in the spaces between the rails, means serving to hold one of the pillars against slidable movement, a motor, an electric circuit for operating the motor, a switch for controlling the supply of electricity to the motor, gears adapted to transmit rotation from the motor to the non-slidable pillar, means serving to slidably shift the pillars apart and to simultaneously rotate at the same time all of the slidable pillars when the non-slidable pillar is being revolved, and an adjusting device servlng to yieldingly retain the cams in engagement. This specification signed and wltnessed this eleventh day of March A. D. 1913.

FREDERICK W. HOGHSTETTER.

Witnesses:

Ron'r. B. ABBOTT, Y M. Dmmonr. 

